Tennessee remains in the middle of the pack in some preseason predictions despite losing in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA tournament, losing top talent to transfers and head coach Holly Warlick being relieved of her duties as head coach. Because despite recent turbulent years, it’s still Tennessee. So the Vols still managed to keep top recruits and landed a new coach, alum Kellie Harper, who led Missouri State to the Sweet 16 last season and a historic national ranking in the final USA Today Coaches Poll.
Key Non-Conference Matchups:
Nov. 11 at Notre Dame
Dec. 8 vs. Texas
Dec. 18 at Stanford
Jan. 23 at UConn
Key Returners
Rennia Davis – 14.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG
Losses
Evina Westbrook (transfer) – 14.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, also led the team in assists and steals
Newcomers
Jordan Horston – 6’2 F
Jessie Rennie – 5’8 G
Tamari Key – 6’5 C
Emily Saunders – 6’5 C
What it’ll take:
This is a rebuilding year for a historic program. Despite all of the good fortune (considering), Tennessee is still a young team, and this is Harper’s first year at the helm of not only a Big 5 school, but an iconic program. With that comes a need to handle scrutiny and need to if not win games, show that there’s improvements coming soon. This is a year for the Lady Vols to get on their feet.